Star Lake Ranch Equine

01/09/2024

You may wonder why we pull back into the syringe when giving injections in the vein. This picture explains why. We don't pull back to make sure we're in the vessel, we do it to make sure we're in the RIGHT vessel. Today I went to give an injection and pulled back and saw blood brighter than I wanted. I decided to go and get a new dose of sedation and once again pulled back and then gave my dose of sedation. The syringe on the left was my first injection and the syringe on the right was my second injection. Does anyone know why I shouldn't have injected that first syringe? And had I injected that first injection, what would have happened?

12/03/2023

Did you realise that your horses kidneys move?
That with each breath, they move approximately the length of a vertebral segment?
That in a single day, with your horse breathing normally, they will move on average 1.6km?

Why? Because they are connected to the diaphragm (as well as other things) via fascia and ligaments.
Look where they are located.. right under the back of your saddle. Poor saddle fit, unbalanced riders (any rider really but unbalanced is worse) will put pressure on this area and because where they are innervated from this can cause the restriction.

A classic sign of kidney restriction is the fidgety horse, that won't stand still. They are reactive and sore to pressure over the tops of the last ribs and it's firm, no give.
Combine that with restrictions at TH 15, 16, 17 and 18, and a change in pelvis angle.. and you will have issue with movement and attitude.

That sore back may have nothing to do with the muscles....
Something else to think about....

Photo: Merck Veterinary Manual (not motivated enough to draw my own tonight sorry).

02/26/2023

Cold hosing hack 🙌🏻 Bell boot to secure the hose in place

PSA: this mare is a middle aged show horse who stands quietly in the crossties. She is not spooky and was supervised during this cold hosing. Don’t strap this to your feral 2yo please! 😂 The bell boot pictured here is a fabric one with velcro. The velcro isn’t strapped tightly so if the mare did walk or paw, the velcro would pop right off and the hose would be free.

07/21/2022

A handy diagram for those who give shots

06/29/2022

What a great group of kids to work with. I taught them some easy stretches they can do with their horses and we worked on riding around a barrel with one hand at an equal distance around the barrel.

03/18/2022

10/05/2021

Kahlùa went to her new home today!

06/15/2021

"HOT" TIPS FOR SAFE SUMMER RIDING

As you prepare for fun in the sun with your favorite equine, make sure you understand how the combination of heat and humidity can take the fun part out the equation — and potentially even turn into a dangerous situation for your horse.

When riding in hot weather, remember to take precautions and use your common sense. Remain vigilant for dehydration and for signs of heat exhaustion, as the situation can quickly escalate into heat stroke. If your horse looks hot and tired, it's time for a drink, a cold bath and a break in the shade.

Consult your veterinarian for more information, or learn more about the signs of heat stroke on our website at https://aaep.org/issue/heat-stroke

05/15/2021

Summer is almost here! Get your horses feeling their best with an Unwinding session! $50 a horse spring special until June 1st

03/27/2021

This sweet girl went to her new home today. I’m so happy she’ll be loved on by a little girl 🌻

03/18/2021

You can’t lie to a horse.

You can’t lie to a horse in training. If you tell a horse you need x y z but don’t enforce x y z, you are lying. For example, if you need your horse to stand still and not walk off, but they take a small step and you don’t remind them of the rule, you lied. Next time they will take a bigger step and receive a negative response from you, but you previously told them a small step was okay.

You can’t lie to a horse about how you feel. Horses live off instinct and quick decisions and they know if you’re scared, tense or excited. If you are mad, chances are your ride will go downhill fast. If you’re scared, chances are you’ll be taken advantage of. This is a reminder to take each ride one moment at a time. They’re just a horse. And you’re just a person.

You can’t lie to a horse about who you are. A horse will always tell the truth. They will reflect to the world who you are as a person, rider and trainer. Thankfully the things that get reflected most are consistency, care, and try.

You can’t lie to your horse, and your horse can’t lie to you.

www.horsepro.tv

03/02/2021

Here’s a good reference picture of it dried

Horse owners are reminded to watch for hoary alyssum in their hay. Hoary alyssum is a perennial toxic w**d commonly found in sandy pastures and hay fields in the Midwest. Hoary alyssum is toxic when horses graze the fresh plant in the pasture or when consumed as a dried plant in hay. Most hoary alyssum poisoning occurs when horses accidentally consume it in hay. Common signs of toxicity include:
- Swelling and fluid build-up in the lower legs or “stocking up”
- A fever of 103F or higher
- Warm hooves
- Pronounced digital pulse (laminitis)
- Stiff joints and an unwillingness to move
- A “camped out” stance
- Rarely death

There is zero tolerance for hoary alyssum in hay intended for horses; do not feed hay infested with hoary alyssum to horses. Hoary alyssum does not affect other livestock, so hay infested with hoary alyssum can be fed to cattle. In most horses, clinical signs normally disappear with supportive treatment 2 to 4 days after removing the w**d source. However, some horses may be slow to return to full performance or may never completely recover.

For more information on hoary alyssum visit https://extension.umn.edu/horse-pastures-and-facilities/hoary-alyssum-most-common-poisonous-plant-horses-minnesota

02/23/2021